bound 1 of 5

noun (1)

Definition of boundnext
1
as in limit
a real or imaginary point beyond which a person or thing cannot go the language in the novel really is beyond the bounds of decency

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in confines
the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something colored outside the bounds of the drawing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bound

2 of 5

noun (2)

as in leap
an act of leaping into the air the kangaroo took one giant bound and was gone

Synonyms & Similar Words

bound

3 of 5

verb (1)

1
as in to define
to mark the limits of the country is bounded by water on two sides

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to border
to serve as a border for being bounded on all sides by the Alps has helped Switzerland maintain its neutrality

Synonyms & Similar Words

bound

4 of 5

verb (2)

1
as in to hop
to move with a light springing step the child giggled and bounded off to play with her friends

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to leap
to propel oneself upward or forward into the air a rabbit bounded down the garden path

Synonyms & Similar Words

bound

5 of 5

adjective

ˈbau̇nd How to pronounce bound (audio)
as in determined
fully committed to achieving a goal I am bound and determined to write a novel before I turn 30

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bound
Noun
Walker attempted to truck Gilman near the end of the play, and Gilman bumped him back out of bounds. — Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 8 Aug. 2026 His running kept numerous plays alive and also converted a third-and-14 on the game’s final drive, when King found another hole, ran for 26 yards and got out of bounds. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
Yan bounded off the mound, slapping his hand against his glove several times, after the inning ended. — ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026 Near where the Loch empties into the Harlem Meer, a long-haired child, unaccompanied by an adult, bounded along the bank with a fly rod. — Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
Adjective
The bound paper booklets in which students hand-write their responses to test questions have surged in popularity during the AI explosion. — Jamil Zaki, CNBC, 12 May 2026 The Dodgers’ split-squad group that journeyed the 14 miles from Glendale (and ultimately lost to Texas, 7-6) was largely a skeleton crew of Triple-A bound prospects and wannabes. — Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, 28 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bound
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bound
  1. limit
  2. edge
  3. leap
  4. define
  5. border
  6. hop
  7. jump
  8. determined
Noun
  • And officials who reach the rank of director-general and above generally have to live with permanent limits on their freedom to travel abroad, even after retirement.
    — Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Later, the Moon opposes Saturn in your 1st House of Identity, asking whether an agreement still honors your own limits.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of limit
Noun
  • In addition, Greg Rousseau and Bradley Chubb were the only edge-rushing outside linebackers on the field for the Bills’ first-team defense.
    — Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • And this year, the popular concept will be revisited in a new mid-top form, giving the shoe an even more boot-like edge.
    — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of edge
Noun
  • Yet for every one of these tremendous leaps forward engineered by Gorbachev, Putin has commanded a sensational step backward.
    — Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • But Helaena puts an end to it all with a fatal leap from captivity.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of leap
Verb
  • The idea that government, which has been defined as incompetent and inefficient for decades, could provide grocery abundance and variety better than Walmart and Costco has triggered a visceral reaction among critics.
    — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Fierezza, for example, is defined by contrasts between pink peppercorn, incense, and marine notes.
    — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of define
Verb
  • On her 43 acres of woods and reclaimed native prairie in rural Tazewell County, Katie VandenBerg walked the edge of her property, inspecting a line of oaks bordered by miles of corn and soybean fields.
    — Christiana Freitag, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Liechtenstein, a wealthy nation of 40,000 people that borders Switzerland and Austria, has an unusually powerful monarchy by European standards.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of border
Verb
  • The pools are worth the visit alone—killer views, and plenty of space to hop around to keep the scenery fresh.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Players hopped golf cart rides to class, on the rare occasion that the class wasn’t online.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of hop
Verb
  • While only a modest change, July marks the first time in 15 months that egg prices jumped month-over-month.
    — Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The Navy Times and Stars and Stripes reported several instances of crew members on the vessel attempting to jump overboard.
    — Connor Greene, Time, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of jump
Adjective
  • At first determined to capture him, little by little Araí starts to understand, and eventually, to identify with the villain.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Abel opens the wallet Berkshire Hathaway’s CEO Greg Abel, who took over from Buffett at the start of the year, appears determined to put the record cash hoard amassed by Warren Buffett to work on buybacks and stock purchases.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of determined

Browse Nearby Words

bouncy
bound
boundaries
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bound.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bound. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on bound

Nglish: Translation of bound for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All